Heritage Conservancy

Riparian Buffers

Areas of stream bank sections (including main stem, tributaries and small head water streams) lacking a riparian buffer, or vegetated strip that protects from the impact of adjacent land uses. Locations are identified as lacking either one or both of the following conditions: 50’ wide or more forest and at least 50% canopy closure. Data originates from the Heritage Conservancy Assessment, funded by the PA department of Environmental Protection’s Coastal Zone Management and Pennsylvania Stream ReLeaf programs. For the followup work in 2012, only three counties were completed with Heritage Conservancy performing the work in Philadelphia and Bucks counties, and Montgomery County mapped by the county.